473. The Ascension: The Feast of Our Future

Jesus: “I go to prepare a place for you, so that where I am, you may be also.” Thomas: “But, Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” He wanted a geographical answer. (“Go to Jericho, then turn right”, or something.) Jesus:  “I am the Way, the Truth and the […]

Read More »

470. Doubting Thomas? Part Three: Not Seeking Truth

  “There is no use trying,” said Alice; “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”    from Alice’s Adventures […]

Read More »

468. Doubting Thomas? Part One: Seeking Truth

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! Forgive me. This Post is three days late. Just wait till you’re 85 and stay at the Paschal Meal at church till 4:30 in the morning. It was wonderful, and I spent all last  week recovering. This Post has already grown rather long. Therefore I’m splitting into two […]

Read More »

466. Holy Saturday night: The Paschal Service, Paschal Matins, Paschal Divine Liturgyu

GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA!   Christ is risen! Truly he is risen! Father Alexander Schmemann called our Orthodox Paschal celebration “an explosion of joy”. Words are inadequate to describe the services. They speak for themselves. (Every time I preached on Pascha I wished I hadn’t. This year my Pascha sermon will consist of: “Christ is […]

Read More »

462. Holy Friday Morning: The Royal Hours

These are the short (by Orthodox standards) daily services sung regularly in monasteries at certain “hours”  – First Hour (dawn), Third Hour (9 a.m.), Sixth Hour (Noon), Ninth Hour (3 p.m.). Before certain great feasts they are appointed also for parish churches. Some parishes read them throughout the day at the appointed monastic times. I […]

Read More »